Locals stage protest near Pakyong airport demanding compensation for land

Members of around 30 families of Pakyong in East Sikkim Saturday staged dharna near the newly-constructed airport demanding compensation for the land that had been acquired for the project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the greenfield Pakyong airport on September 24 to bring Sikkim on the aviation map of the country.

The protesters, who carried placards and posters, also blocked the movement of vehicles in and out of the airport much to the distress of the public and passengers. They raised slogans demanding payment of compensation for their land acquired for the airport and its installations. Local officials rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators, East Sikkim District Magistrate Kapil Meena said. Meena told PTI that some local families living near Pakyong have been agitating over their compensation demand and related issues.

The district magistrate said that the compensation issue of the local people was sub-judice in Sikkim High Court and the district administration cannot deal with it on its own. "I will seek instruction from the chief secretary on the guidelines to deal with the issue," he added.